Prince Andrew boasted of getting account at Chinese state-owned bank in 2008

21 December 2024, 12:52 | Updated: 21 December 2024, 13:01

Prince Andrew with suspected Chinese spy Yang Tengbo
Prince Andrew with suspected Chinese spy Yang Tengbo. Picture: Alamy

By Charlie Duffield

Prince Andrew has gloated about a Chinese state-owned bank making "an exception" for him, it's been claimed.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

A leaked email allegedly reveals that the Duke of York, 64, was given preferential treatment and was able to open an account with the Bank of China in 2008.

It's thought the account is based in China and would have permitted Andrew to retrieve payments for business deals outside of the stare of UK authorities.

The revelation puts more pressure on the Duke to reveal his dealings with China.

His “close confidant” Yang Tengbo, also known as Chris Yang, is thought to be a Chinese spy, who has been forbidden from entering Britain as a threat to national security.

Mr Yang denies all wrongdoing, and was a founding member of Pitch@Palace in China, a money-making business venture established with the Duke in 2016.

Yet the leaked email reveals the Duke attempting to open an account in China eight years previously, indicating that his business deals in the country are more extensive than first thought.

Read More: 'A terrible, insane act': Five dead, 200 injured as suspect named after car ploughs into crowd at German Christmas market

Read More: Yellow weather warnings issued as 85mph winds set to batter parts of UK this weekend

The email was seen by The Telegraph, and sent on January 12 2008 to a British financier.

Andrew wrote: “Just thought you’d like to know that I have been allowed to have a bank account in The Bank of China.

"I don’t know all the details yet but it seems to be happening. Normally you have to present yourself in person but they will make an exception for me.

“Might be useful… That’s all for now.”

The email was signed off “The Duke of York” and sent from his BlackBerry phone.

A leaked diplomatic cable from Sir Sebastian Wood - the UK's China ambassador - in April 2010 also reveals Andrew's plans to regularly visit the country.

It's thought that UK intelligence agencies are investigating the alleged money trail between Yang and the United Front Work Department, which is an arm of the Chinese Communist Party.

Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative party leader, has repeatedly criticised China to such an extent that Beijing has imposed sanctions on him.

He said it is vital that the British intelligence services look into who the Duke has been associating with in China.

Sir Iain, Tory MP for Chingford and Woodford Green, said: “When it comes to the Royal family, the Government has to take an interest in what they are doing. The advice going to members of the royals should always be very clear.

"China, Russia and Iran are always looking for ways into the political establishment.

"What I’m concerned about is what we’ve learned in the last week is that the security services didn’t seem to take any interest in what Prince Andrew was doing, in terms of whom he mixed with, and I think that’s a major problem.”

One expert who has undertaken business in China, said: “One reason you might want a bank account is if you were investing directly in Chinese businesses or getting payments from China.

"If this was essentially a domestic bank account allowing them to hold renminbi [or yuan the Chinese currency], that would tend to suggest either that person is receiving payments from a Chinese business or that they were moving money into a Chinese business.”

The Duke of York has not issued a comment or statement in response to a right to reply.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Strangers bar is to reopen following spiking allegation

MPs bar to reopen with extra security after spiking claims

The bodies of Andrew Searle and his wife Dawn were discovered by a neighbour

Post-mortem results reveal fatal injuries of British couple found dead at home in rural French village

Salman Rushdie gives evidence in court as author gives evidence against alleged knife attacker

Salman Rushdie gives evidence in court as author gives evidence against alleged knife attacker

The Huszti sisters

Bodies recovered from river in Scotland confirmed as missing sisters

Bargain Hunt star Charles Hanson arrives at Derby Crown Court, where he is charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm between May 13 and 17 2020 and engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour between May 2015 and June 2023,

Wife of Bargain Hunt star 'paralysed with fear' when husband Charles Hanson 'attacked' her while pregnant

Luis Rubiales is on trial in Madrid accused of sexual assault for kissing Jenni Hermoso on the lips

Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales 'absolutely sure' kiss with Jenni Hermoso after World Cup win was consensual

Pedstrian faced half an hour queues on Hammersmith Bridge this morning

Commuter chaos as footway closure causes 30-minute pedestrian traffic jam on Hammersmith Bridge

Kanye West's store taken down by Shopify over sale of Swastika t-shirts following Super Bowl storm

Kanye West's store taken down by Shopify over sale of Swastika t-shirts following Super Bowl storm

Chelsea and Australia striker Sam Kerr found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment of a police officer

Chelsea star Sam Kerr cleared of racially aggravated harassment after calling officer 'stupid and white'

Warren Gatland who has quit Wales during the Six Nations

Wales rugby coach Warren Gatland quits mid Six Nations following record run of defeats

Park rangers are attempting to capture an estimated 20 feral pigs

Park rangers hunt for 20 feral pigs in Scottish Highlands following 'illegal release'

As many as six in 10 children in some areas have rotting teeth by the age of five

North-south divide as data shows amount of children with rotting teeth rising

The mother claimed her husband would find the weather too hot.

Mum avoids deportation to the Caribbean after claiming her husband doesn't like the food and the weather is too hot

Keane Perform At Manchester Apollo

Peter Kay breaks silence after kicking out hecklers who were 'spoiling the show' by shouting 'garlic bread'

Mark Rowley has slammed the decision by the High Court

Plans to kick ‘predators’ out of Met in tatters after High Court case, as police chief says force in 'hopeless position'

Devonte Aransibia

Tributes pour in as former Norwich City star dies aged just 26